Nissan Skyline V35 (2001–2006)

A clean break from the RB-engined R34

Nissan called the V35 its "ideal premium sports sedan of the 21st century", and almost nothing carried over from the R34. The RB straight six, the turbocharged GTS models and the GT-R badge all went. In their place came a range of V6 engines mounted far back in the engine bay, a longer body and a much roomier cabin. German Wikipedia notes that Nissan did not plan a GT-R on this platform, a decision that upset fans; the R34 GT-R carried on alone until 2002, and the GT-R later returned as a separate model.

The design was previewed by the Nissan XVL concept at the Tokyo Motor Show in October 1999. According to English Wikipedia, Hiroshi Hasegawa designed both the saloon and the coupé, and the saloon shape was frozen in 1998.

Japanese buyers responded quickly. Nissan reported 4,200 orders in the first 14 days and planned overtime and weekend shifts at its Tochigi plant to keep up. The 2.5-litre engine took 60% of early orders.

The full 13-generation story, from the 1957 Prince original onwards, is told in our Nissan Skyline overview.

The FM platform and the long-wheelbase saloon

FM stands for "front midship". The V6 sits behind the front axle line, which helps give the 300GT a front-to-rear weight split of 52:48. The same platform family underpinned the Nissan 350Z and the Infiniti FX, which makes the V35 a close relative of the Nissan Z sports cars rather than of earlier Skylines.

The long wheelbase and short overhangs were the point of the package. Nissan's launch release lists an aluminium multi-link front suspension, a lighter and stiffer multi-link rear axle, ventilated discs at both ends and 17-inch tyres as standard on the 300GT. Nissan also claimed zero lift and a drag coefficient of 0.27, or 0.26 with an optional rear spoiler and floor fairings.

The coupé came later, from 2003. It was sold in Japan with the 3.5-litre engine and abroad as the Infiniti G35 Coupe.

VQ V6 engines and drivetrains

The launch range used two NEO Di direct-injection V6 engines with electronically controlled variable valve timing, which Nissan described as a world first. The 3.5-litre VQ35DE, a port-injected engine, joined later. Figures are the Japanese ratings in kW followed by PS.

Both launch automatics had a manual shift mode. Rear-wheel drive was standard; German Wikipedia lists all-wheel drive as an option on the 2.5-litre. In the US, the G35x saloon used ATTESA E-TS all-wheel drive with an automatic only. In steady driving it stays effectively rear-wheel drive, and it can send up to 50% of the torque to the front wheels when accelerating or when grip is lost.

American G35 figures were quoted in SAE horsepower and changed over the years. The 2003–2004 saloon was rated at 194 kW (260 hp) and the coupé at 209 kW (280 hp). From 2005, manual cars got a "Rev-Up" VQ35DE rated at 222 kW (298 hp).

V35 300GT saloon dimensions

The figures below are Nissan's launch data for the 300GT with rear-wheel drive.

Japanese 10-15 mode economy was 11.6 km/L for the 3.0-litre and 12.0 km/L for the 2.5-litre, roughly 8.6 and 8.3 L/100 km. Weights rose for the US cars: English Wikipedia gives 1,540 kg (3,395 lb) for the automatic G35 saloon and coupé.

Infiniti G35 crash tests and safety design

Nissan's release lists several passive safety features for the V35, including a breakaway propeller shaft, a brake pedal designed not to move back towards the driver in a crash, and an active seat cushion. That cushion, standard on all models, raises a crossbar during a severe frontal impact, and Nissan called it a world first.

No Euro NCAP or ANCAP result exists for this generation. The independent data comes from the IIHS in the US, which tested the Infiniti G35 saloon.

A 2007 IIHS Status Report, cited by English Wikipedia, ranked the 2003–2004 G35 as the safest car in its luxury mid-size class by driver fatality rate.

Known issues and model-year changes

The best-documented problem concerns the early US cars. English Wikipedia reports complaints and a California class action over premature brake wear on 2003–2004 G35s, after which Infiniti replaced the Brembo set-up with larger discs and new calipers for 2005–2006. We found no European reliability survey or breakdown data for the V35 Skyline.

The G35 saloon was refreshed for 2005 with a revised interior and dashboard, and US manual cars gained a sport suspension, a viscous limited-slip differential and the Rev-Up engine. For 2006 the coupé received new lights and bumpers and optional rear active steering.

Which V35 to look for

Most V35 Skylines in Europe are Japanese imports, while left-hand-drive G35s come from North America. The badge tells you the engine size, as German Wikipedia points out.

• 250GT: the launch version that took 60% of early orders, with the 158 kW (215 PS) direct-injection V6 and a four-speed automatic.
• 300GT: the 191 kW (260 PS) 3.0-litre with a five-speed automatic and, at launch, a standard Bose sound system.
• 350GT saloon: the 3.5-litre VQ35DE, the closest Japanese equivalent of the US G35.
• 350GT coupé (from 2003): 206 kW (280 PS) and the option of a six-speed manual, the sportiest V35.
• G35x (US): all-wheel drive, automatic only, a useful choice for winter climates.

The V35 can also be compared with other Japanese cars in our catalogue, and its successor generations are part of the wider Nissan range. For the GT-R that eventually replaced the old Skyline GT-R, see the Nissan GT-R R35.